Editing Customs (section)

==Naming customs==
===First names===
:{{Main|Name day}}
In the [[Seven Kingdoms]], children receive a name at their birth, causing the day of their birth being called their [[name day]]. The [[free folk]] who live [[beyond the Wall]] name their children only after they reach the age of two, believing it to be bad luck if children are given a name at an earlier age, as child mortality is high north of the [[Wall]].{{Ref|ASOS|46}} They can, however, decide on which name to give the child while the child is still younger.{{Ref|AFFC|35}}

===Surnames===
Upon marriage, most women take their husband's surname.<ref name=SF>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/SF_Targaryens_Valyria_Sansa_Martells_and_More SF, Targaryens, Valyria, Sansa, Martells, and More], June 26, 2001</ref> However, usage can vary. For example, while Catelyn is referred to most frequently as [[Catelyn Stark]], she is also referred to as "Catelyn Tully"{{Ref|AGOT|35}}{{Ref|ADWD|41}} and "Catelyn Tully Stark".{{Ref|AGOT|10}}{{Ref|AGOT|34}} A married noblewoman ruling in her own right retains her house name (e.g., [[Anya Waynwood]], [[Arwyn Oakheart]]), though sometimes it is uncertain whether her husband was also of that house (e.g. [[Tanda Stokeworth]], [[Shella Whent]]). The consort of the reigning monarch retains her surname (e.g., [[Cersei Lannister]], [[Margaery Tyrell]], and [[Alyssa Velaryon]]), as does the spouse of a royal prince (e.g., [[Laena Velaryon]]).{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Conversely, a royal princess may take on the surname of her husband, but may prefer using the name of their royal house (e.g., [[Baela Targaryen]] and [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]], or Baela Velaryon and Rhaena Corbray).{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}} If the family of the woman is significantly higher born than the family of the husband, the wife might chose to use mostly her maiden name, and her husband's name little, or not at all.<ref name=SF/>

In [[Dorne]], customs vary from the rest of [[Westeros]]. As firstborn children inherit in Dorne, following Rhoynish customs, females more frequently inherit their family's lands and titles. In such cases, they do not take the name of their husband.<ref name=SF/>

Bastards with at least one noble parent can be given surnames by their parents. There are also traditional bastard surnames, which differ per region. These include "Waters" in the [[crownlands]], "Sand" in [[Dorne]], "Pyke" in the [[Iron Islands]], "Snow" in the [[north]], "Flowers" in the [[Reach]], "Rivers" in the [[riverlands]], "Storm" in the [[stormlands]], "Stone" in the [[Vale of Arryn]], and  "Hill" in the [[westerlands]].

When a male bastard has legitimate children, these children receive their father's bastard name, though a later generation might adjust the name as to remove the taint of [[bastardy]],<ref name=SF/> (e.g., [[House Longwaters]]). When a male and female noble-born bastard from a different region (i.e., with a different surname) marry, the child will most likely take the surname of the father.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Bastards_Offspring Bastard's Offspring], January 20, 1999</ref>  Parents can also decide to give their bastard a surname different from the "usual bastard surnames",<ref name=SF/> e.g., [[Tyrion Tanner]], or no surname at all.<ref name=SF/> Men who receive lands and knighthood might also take a (new) surname. [[Daemon I Blackfyre|Daemon Waters]], the bastard son of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]], took the name "Blackfyre" as his surname after having been knighted and having received lands of his own, even though he had not been legitimized.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} Smuggler [[Davos Seaworth|Davos]], after receiving both knighthood and lands, took the name "Seaworth" for his newly-made house.{{Ref|ACOK|Prologue}}

The bastards of two [[smallfolk|common born people]] do not receive a surname.<ref name=SF/>